But it may be hopeful anyway.

August 28, 1955

The NY Times ran two stories in its Monday sports section celebrating two young Dodger hurlers who had thrown back to back great games. One was the story of Sunday's game reporting the Dodgers 6-1 win over the Cardinals at Ebbets Field. Rookie Karl Spooner went the distance giving up just six hits, one of them a home run to Rip Repulski. Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella homered for the Dodgers. The Dodgers were now 82-45 and 11 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee. The magic number for the Dodgers was 15.

But there was a bigger story about Saturday's game. The Dodgers had defeated Cincinnati (the series ended on a Saturday) 7-0 behind a 2-hit shutout from an even younger rookie than Spooner: Sanford (Sandy) Koufax. Dodger fans were very interested to see if their bonus baby would pay off.

August 28, 1971

The remnants of Hurricane Doria forced the Dodgers to play a doubleheader in New York and it was a disaster as the Mets rocked the Dodgers early in the first game to win 9-2 and then rallied late to win the nightcap 2-1. The Dodgers fell to 69-63 and 7 ½ games behind first place San Francisco and in danger of falling out of the race.

In the opener, Claude Osteen allowed the first six Mets to reach base and manager Walter Alston pulled him in favor of Joe Moeller. But all six eventually came around to score.

It only got worse for the Dodgers. Donn Clendenon hit a 2-run home run in the second. Cleon Jones doubled home one more run. The Dodgers managed only a sacrifice fly from Bobby Valentine and a home run by Willie Davis against Tom Seaver, who went the distance to run his career record against the Dodgers to 11-2. (The Dodgers would improve against Seaver later in his career and he would finish with a 22-22 record against the Dodgers.)

In the nightcap, Don Sutton and Gary Gentry had a pitchers' duel. The game was scoreless until the 8th. Catcher Duke Sims doubled and Valentine ran for him. One out later, pinch hitter Tom Haller singled home Valentine with the first run of the game.

Jim Brewer came into relieve in the 8th and retired the first two Mets. But Duffy Dyer doubled. Then pinch hitter Tommy Agee singled home Dyer to tie the game.

The Dodgers could not score against Tug McGraw in the top of the 9th. And in the bottom of the 9th, Brewer surrendered a two-out homer to Cleon Jones to lose the game, 2-1.

The Dodgers would lose the third game of the series to the Mets and fall 8 ½ games back. But the Dodgers then got hot and won 13 of 15 to pull within 1 game of the Giants. The hot streak included a bench-clearing brawl in a game on September 13 in San Francisco, which saw Juan Marital, Bill Buckner, Maury Wills and Jerry Johnson ejected. But they could get no closer and lost the division by one game with a record of 89-73.

Richie (as he was called in 1971) Allen was the Dodgers offensive leader in 1971. In his lone season with the Dodgers, he batted .295 with 23 home runs and an OBP of .395. Allen split time between left field and third base. But Allen was not welcomed back in 1972 and he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in the off-season for Tommy John.

Third base was a problem area for the Dodgers all season. Allen committed 15 errors in 67 games. Steve Garvey made 14 errors in 79 games at third base. Valentine made 7 errors in 24 games at the position.

The pitching ace was Al Downing who had been acquired in the off-season for Andy Kosco. Downing would go 20-9 with a 2.68 ERA. Sutton went 17-12 with a 2.54 ERA. Brewer had a solid year out of the bullpen with a 6-5 record, 22 saves and a 1.88 ERA.

For some Dodgers fans, like this one, 1971 was the first look at a pennant race. And the first time that a young boy growing up in the San Fernando Valley realized that the San Francisco Giants were the embodiment of evil.

Thanks to the Los Angeles Times, BaseballReference.com and Retrosheet

Taveras
Palmeiro
Ensberg
Berkman
Lamb
Vizcaino
Bruntlett
Ausmus
Clemens

vs.

Werth (!!)
Robles
Kent
Ledee (!!)
Phillips (!?!?)
Cruz
Navarro
Edwards (?????)
Weaver

CF Werth
SS Robles
2B Kent
LF Ledee
1B Phillips (blah)
RF Cruz
C Navarro
3B Edwards (again, blah)
P Weaver

vs

CF Taveras
LF Palmeiro
3B Ensberg
RF Berkman
1B Lamb
2B Vizcaino
SS Bruntlett
C Ausmus
P Clemens

Jason Grabowski has more steals than Oscar Robles.

In conclusion, I hate Jim Tracy

Roger Craig is smart enough to wear a hat.

And can we have a harmonica duel between Erskine and Musial? I wonder if it would be better than how Erskine fared against Musial at the plate. Reputation (although detailed splits aren't available) is that Musial killed the Dodgers and Brooklyn fans gave him the nickname "The Man."

I dont know. I kinda like Werth leading off in sort of a "lets see if it might work" kind of way.

Jason Phillips doesnt deserve time over Choi. And Edwards definnitely doesnt over AP.

No matter which island it may be.

That's about as good as any active Dodger is against Clemens.

I'm digging Werth leading off though. Sees a lot of pitches, has at least a little pop.

If Weaver doensnt implode we might by dumb luck score a few runs today.

What do you got?

I have the over. I like Berkman and Lamb to go deep off Weaver.

Maybe even Old Gold cigarettes.

Then I thought that the entire cable system was screwed up when I tried it on my other TV.

The horror!

Now for you youngsters, for 10 points who was Gowdy's announcing partner?

Jim Simpson and Sandy Koufax would work the backup game. Koufax was not a great announcer.

But your like always, correct. Personally, Koufax could never do any wrong or bad

http://tinyurl.com/dxuzt

It's a really big list.

You can note how the Dodgers don't change much.

Clemens looks like normal Clemens unfortunately

They were both so Yankees and Orioles oriented. Everything was Earl Weaver this or Micky Mantle that....Not exactly the best sort of commentary for a Dodger fanatic youth.

However, Gowdy's voice is legendary to me.

I believe we go to color in the 5th inning, Brendan.

Koufax just didn't have much personality. He obviously knew the game, but he's just too introverted. Once Koufax's contract ran out, Joe Garagiola took his place.

Even worse for me was watching the NCAA basketball tournament on NBC. Gowdy was the play-by-play guy for that. Ugh. And the Basketball Hall of Fame's award for broadcasters is named for Curt Gowdy!

Mr. Clutch 2 for 4 lifetime against Clemens, he gets the start. HSC, 1 for 7, gets benched.

Plus remember the 2 for 4 explosion by Clutch last night.

Still, I like Navarro, but I remain unconvinced that he's anything better than an average C. But considering Phillips was barely even a C, it was an upgrade.

Remember that the umpires are working for free.
And the play was in a weird part of the field for the umpire to see.

Garagiola is single-handedly responsible for the modern day Cult of Yogi Berra. I can't imagine how many Yogi stories he told. He was good for at least two a game.

I also forgot about him and Vin annoucning for awhile. UGH!

I also forgot about him and Vin annoucning for awhile. UGH!